The high-level official uttered those words in the end of the forum in response to the discussion at the open meeting of the HIV/AIDS Prevention Coordination Board that took place on 27 November 2018.
‘You can’t buy condoms with budget money, by doing so we encourage anti-social behavior,’ Krayevoy unexpectedly reacted to the report on implementation of recommendations, made by the department he belongs to, for “The Development of Standard Interdepartmental Program for HIV Prevention Among Key Populations”.
‘The “glass of water” theory, which was created by the Bolsheviks by the way (the famous quote falsely attributed to Clara Zetkin was meant, Ed. note), may still be relevant to someone but not me. I do not disapprove of these people but it’s their way of life. In my country we call it promiscuity. I’m not saying we shouldn’t do it, I mean we shouldn’t do it with public money,’ the official pointed out.
Recommendations formulated by the Ministry of Health experts were published online earlier. Apart from many cutting edge methods of work with key groups, they suggested free distribution of condoms and clean syringes as a “motivational package” issued to a client, visiting an anonymous rapid HIV testing point.
It is noteworthy that not only did the Deputy Minister’s words outrage the experts at the forum but they were also uttered right after the government’s inefficient ways of spending money aimed at HIV prevention had been criticized.
Next the official addressed harm reduction programs that traditionally include used syringes and needles exchange and replacement therapy in particular, questioning its efficacy as a preventive measure. At first Krayevoy in an overeager manner even called methadone – the main drug previously used in replacement and maintenance therapy – “meldonium”. But he quickly corrected himself.
Having been quite firmly rejected by the experts present, at the end of his speech the Deputy Minister emphasized that his opinion was “not final” but had the right to exist as an “acceptable” one within the framework of professional discussion.